Actinolite Restaurant in Toronto

Attentive service and dietary restrictions friendly. Really delicious local ingredients!!

Really great. Unpretentious despite being awesome. Friendly service, great + sophisticated flavours. Nice wine list. A+

The following few words are partially biased..., I admit it! We had a great evening, and a wonderful dîner with my mum. We tested 9 or 10 dishes, and 8 were wonderful. Not just super tasty and looking nice, but with lots more..., that little extra you can only get when love and passion are part of it. Yes my son is a chef at Actinolite, ( thats the biased part!), and a great one, but his love and passion for the food he prepares with the whole team, is only possible thanks to chef owner Justin. A truly great guy who allows his team to create , imagine and share their passion for food with us normal people . Thank you to you Justin and to your entire team for what will remain a great moment and memory with my mum, and son. Best wishes to all of you Regards. Philippe and Colette

Extremely delicious, extremely hospitable

Exquisite! Look at the dish the chef brought out! Wheelchair accessibility: I dont use a wheelchair but the environment was divine! Food : 4/5 |

Great drinks, great food and a great team result in a great evening. I look forward to my next visit.

Really cool and different experience! Especially in Toronto where everything sort of feels similar. Outdoor garden is super cozy and the staff is very kind and really knowledgeable. Food was excellent. Will be back!

Absolutely perfect evening! Some of the best food I ve had in Toronto! My husband eats meat and I m vegetarian and we both were blown away! Service was impeccable as well. Will be back! Dietary restrictions: Vegetarian. Will accommodate all diets.

A perfect 10.

Wonderful atmosphere, excellent service and very friendly staff. Notwithstanding the previous reviews , our food experience could not have been more different. The whole chefs meal (with the exception of the desert ) could be summed up in one word : BLAND Friends at our table who had previously dined at the restaurant and had a very good experience, were surprised and disappointed. Unfortunate, since it is a really nice place to eat.

Outstanding in every way with an awesome focus on locally sourced ingredients.

Incredible meal! In my top restaurants that I have been to!

WOW, this place was recommended to me by a friend of a friend who is a local chef, and it did NOT disappoint. My friend and I ordered from the Neighbourhood menu, everything was made with fresh local ingredients and the portions were generous. We sat in the back garden, It was absolutely magical, the atmosphere is absolutely dreamy, rustic and quaint. Pictures below, the morels were to die for!!

What an Incredible dining experience. I can feel the love and care Justin (the owner and chef) infused into the each course. With such attention to detail, the flavours and the story of how each course was created stimulates the senses. With every slow and deliberate bite, the joy in my mouth created a connection with the elements that created every ingredient. Such Joy in dining at a graceful pace is not often experienced in a world moving so fast.

Just fantastic!

This is restaurant is fantastic, from the food which was WOW, the atmosphere was super cozy and pleasant and the service was fantastic.

Can t say enough about this place. Great food, friendly, knowledgable servers, and sat out the back under a tin roof in the garden. Just a wonderful experience!!

Tasty local Ontario ingredients. Everything cooked in the fire with great smoky flavours, especially the potatoes and corn. All the fresh herbs were lovely. Easily accommodated our dietary restrictions : gluten free and no pork. Parking: Street parking available in the surrounding neighbourhood

Overrated. The food was disappointing. The ingredients, preparation and service were not worthy of the rating this place has. The fixed menu was mainly uninspired vegetables, a small mediocre slice of fish and some bread. If the value of the ingredients is low, then youd expect something interesting in the preparation? We did give them a second chance, maybe something was off with them or with us that evening, but same result. There are so many actually good culinary experiences in Toronto, I wouldnt include Actionlite on that list.

I cant even. Amazing. Honestly I think the best meal of life. From the incredible service and just... Friendly vibe, there fact that each course hit, and the interesting wines, a total treat.

Good experience. Interesting concept.

Long overdue, I was able to visit Actinolite on my birthday the night the pandemic (covid-19) was declared. We were 1 of the 2 tables in that night. Service was easy and impeccable, and the tasting menu came with additional little treats that were unexpected and flavourful. Everything is done with purpose, and full of flavour. I enjoyed it so much I have sent several customers there who have additionally enjoyed their meal. I would highly recommend

Wonderful food, peaceful atmosphere (patio), and impeccable service. I look forward to coming back. Thank you!

Lovely backyard space in the summertime. Wanted to come here for some time and waiting until the backyard opens was a great decision. Literally everything was perfectly cooked from the fish, to the steak and the vegetables.

The course was excellent. Form the first course until the last one. Merci

Top notch service. Set menu takes the pressures of too many options away! Must not be a picky eater though.

What a fantastic neighborhood gem, the endive and the bread course is truly fantastic

Amazing experience. Lovely staff, wonderful food and wine pairings, and a group that were able to accommodate a few folks of the group with allergies/restrictions and everyone had a great experience. Would ABSOLUTELY recommend.

A visit to this cozy, unassuming restaurant is an invitation to delight in local produce and the changing seasons. Wonderful food, service, and atmosphere. Dishes are put together thoughtfully to balance flavours, textures, and the incredible freshness of the ingredients. We loved being surprised with the next course and hearing about where our food came from. Service was warm and attentive. We came to celebrate my friends birthday and every server made sure to wish her a happy birthday. It was a nice touch when they added a candle to our dessert!

In terms of tasting menus in the city, this is *fine*. Nothing here is going to blow your mind and, if youve been to any kinda fine dining before, its unlikely that there are going to be flavours youve never tried before. It is quite pricey for what you get at $125 pp + $70 for the wine tastings, very vegetable-focused, no shellfish on my menu, small-ish protein portions and some disappointingly mundane dishes. There are certainly better options at the price-point, in my opinion.

A truly unforgettable dining experience. Every dish was prepared with creativity, care and an exceptional attention to detail. All exquisite. Wine pairings were perfect. All employees were warm and attentive. A dining experience that you should not miss.

First ones in just before 6, welcomed warmly and fed wholesome and balanced dishes. Smokey, rich, creamy, tangy and tart - all at the right times and with playful vehicles as the medium (walnuts and beets can taste LIKE THAT!?). Loved the bread course - think high class snack plate. Great service and wines on offer. Wine pairing was on point. Thank you!

It has been a couple of months since I dined here, and I genuinely cant imagine any part of the experience being better than it was. Everyone in this building clearly carries pride in their work whether its making reservations, accommodating dietary needs, or explaining the food. On the food, the neighborhood menu was an absolute treat to experience with extremely creative and flavorful dishes made from local ingredients. Its not easy to experiment with food without seeming pretentious, but the kitchen here pulled it off spectacularly. The added element of surprise from not having a menu was icing on an already delicious cake. In a way, it says a lot about an establishment when they focus on their product rather than awards theyve earned along the way. This is a must-have culinary experience in the Toronto area.

Good recipes and concepts but steep on the price and not entirely worth the price

Actinolite has been around for over 12 years so you know theyre doing something right! We did the 7 course tasting menu with wine pairing. The staff was Super friendly and knowledgeable and accommodated our food limitations and made an extra effort to accommodate my personal wine preferences. The meal as a whole was great, interesting, some dishes were out of this world. What a pleasure to finally go to this gem of a place! Vegetarian options: The food is definitely veg forward so based on our experience, I dont think it would be a problem for them to cater that as a whole meal. Dietary restrictions: We asked to remove one type of protein and we got a well worth replacement.

Outstanding. The tasting menu was superb, featuring a well-curated selection of dishes that highlighted the vibrant flavours of in-season products. The wine pairing complemented each course beautifully, with thoughtful selections that enhanced the dining experience. The service was top-notch, with knowledgeable staff offering great wine suggestions that perfectly matched the menu. I really enjoyed the entire experience and am very much looking forward to returning to more of their seasonal offerings!

Fantastic tasting menu where the vegetables are just as good as the meat, roasted carrots is a perfect bite. Amazing dishes throughout and the wine pairing went very well with all of them. Some interesting tastes from all around the world. Will definitely come back. Parking: Have to hunt for a spot on side streets near restaurant with the regular confusing Toronto parking rules. Green P is a bit of a walk.

Delicious tasting menu, fantastic wine pairing and excellent service! Great place for a special occasion meal. Loved it!

We snuck in last week of outdoor dining at his fall and had a true experience. Dining at Actinolite is an unbelievable treat, greeted with a warm drink and blankets. My first time at his favourite place and it was unforgettable. My words can t capture or respect this spot enough. I hope everyone gets to eat here at least once.

The food, service and atmosphere is definitely top notch at Actinolite. We had the chefs menu and for us, it was very focused on high quality veggies from Ontario. They were very delicious and the staff did a great job with the explanations. The only downside that I found was that its very expensive for what youre getting, it was a 7 course meal and it was filling but youre paying almost $200 per person with everything included. And we were pretty much just served veggies and some pork pieces. Its a very nice date spot though, with a comfortable vibe. TLDR - delicious and comfortable but not totally worth the large price tag.

It was alright but didnt blow my mind. Im not a fan of tasting menus in general and I was hungry when I left. Charging prices like this for turnips and carrots is a bit ridiculous. I know alot of the food is local and special and so on but Ive eaten better food at less expensive places, even in France. They also knew it was .y friends birthday and they didnt do anything even though the other tables got candles in their dessert. I felt like I was in one of those pretentious retsaurants where they the staff look like glamorous lumberjacks and listen to Mumford and Sons

The Emperor has no clothes. Or food. Left hungry. Pretentious. Over hyped.

Very interesting take on culinary. Most of them were experimental, sometimes not on a good way, but I appreciate the effort. I wish there was more meat or seafood. Little detail in service and servers did not know much about wines which was disappointing. Good experience for the price.

Absolutely mind-blowing combination of flavours and culinary brilliance. This is best Chef s Menu in town and the service is impeccable. Last night I would have sworn I was tasting a potato properly for the first time in my life. You can t beat the freshness and quality of these ingredients. Great decor and relaxing vibes, too.

Unreal meal - unreal wine pairing - fantastic atmosphere

First of all, the food and wine pairing are phenomenal. Every dish was made with quality ingredients at the utmost freshness. The corresponding wines are selected from lesser-known regions and are made from indigenous grapes. However, the tableware had visible damage, with chips on the rim of several bowls and plates. When we brought this to our server, he didnt seem to care and expected us to accept the fact that their dinnerware can have defects. Its just a shame that the hardware and service werent on par with such fantastic food.

Might be the best restaurant in Toronto. Spectacular wine pairings

Fantastic dinner for a special occasion. Original dishes that tend to showcase high quality local produce. Braised vegetables, interesting sauces, and seafood are often featured. The wine pairing with the tasting menu felt less synergistic and more its own thing, but that was great too. Dont expect much meat if thats what youre looking for, but youll still be very full. Highly recommend.

The best meal Ive ever eaten in my life.

Absolute love and perfection. Actinolite has been on my wishlist for a while and I truly regretted not trying earlier. Cozy ambience, not so bougie which is great. Friendly staff, they can accommodate most dietary restrictions. I love the fact that we don t have to choose our menu. They do it all for you. Love the confidence and they prove why they re confident. They don t use extravagant ingredients but the balance and harmony of ingredients for each dish was phenomenal. Amazing. Would go again.

They give us lobster soup without lobster. And call a piece of cabbage main course. I m completely disappointed. Unbelievable!

The food tasted good and the staff were friendly and professional, but I didnt leave feeling that the price tag per head was worth it. Portions were quite small, and some of them were a bit simple given how much it was.

This was one of the best meals of my life. From beginning to end, each course was a showcase of simple but incredible ingredients made perfectly with impressive technique. Sublime.

The special thing about Actinolite is their ability to make connections with farmers across Canada to pull together an exquisite, fresh and unique tasting menu. When you sit down there is only a drink menu, the food comes out one course at a time and they explain not only the dish but the story behind the ingredients. The farmers, the process, when it was harvested. Each course we had we were wildly impressed at how something seemingly so simple could be presented and prepared in such delicious ways. I would strongly recommend the wine pairings, having the right drink for each course enhances both the flavours and experience.

Loved the local food, variety of selection and flavor pairings Dietary restrictions: They were willing to accomodate groups dietary restrictions Food : 5/5 |

Chose a multi- course tasting menu with five different wines to match. Every bite delicious and unique in my experience. Sweet, attentive and informative servers.

Perhaps it was the prolonged wait (reserved several months in advance), but Actinolite did not live up to expectations. The service was great. The meal was unique, carefully selected, and paired well with wines, however the $250/person price tag was not even closely aligned with the quality or quantity of food.

Avoid at all costs unless you want to be trolled by Actinolite. While the 7 servings may garner your attention, you will find yourself leaving unsatisfied. The plates are unimaginative including a plate of split carrots and half-prepared radishes accompanied by a dressing that is of lower grade than one you would find at a local Farm Boy. The restaurant may have at one time deserved the hype, but now you can see ingredients and plate selection that are less oriented towards providing you with a well rounded food experience, but more so in ensuring that large margins are kept intact. Another plate revolved around a rectangular shaped cutout of a glazed potato and you are left wondering why you are being served a filler that adds absolutely nothing to your dining experience. The service was good, but you can see that they are understaffed, and that the kitchen would benefit from more instruction from the head chef. There are many good restaurants in Toronto, that should garner attention before heading to Actinolite. These include: 1. La Banane 2. Dreyfus 3. DaiLo 4. Alder

Outstanding 7 course testing menu. Tonight featured asparagus and tayberry. The two photos are first and last of the evening. Rhubarb dessert and small shell clams from Newfoundland. Dietary restrictions: They respected the request we put in the reservation

Consistently fantastic food

Tried the tasting menu here based on all the rave reviews and left quite disappointed. Dishes were very experimental but did not work well, 2 stars for the effort but taste wise it fails to deliver. Plates were tiny and mainly cheap ingredients like bread and vegetables, flavours did not come together and often tasted awkward and raw. Desserts were awful and had a strong tar taste, forced myself to finish it out of politeness. Very overpriced ($180+ per person) for very underwhelming food, there s much better spots in Toronto. Save your money and go elsewhere.

Incredible experience and tribute to fresh foods of Ontario. Each course was a savoury delight with a story behind it. Miguel and Krista our servers went beyond. Chef was open, friendly and should be amazingly proud of this culinary presentation and experience. WOW

Amazing food and experience. Vegan options too.

A lovely hidden gem in Toronto where makes you feel like that you are somewhere far from city. Starting with great greeting from kitchen members, unique experience where we all sit outside and you could see how your dishes are prepared. We have added wine pairings and that made our experiences more special. Great place for celebrations!

Parking: Just difficult to find Recommended dishes

Great service and atmosphere but the food was disappointing. Experimental dishes are always appreciated, but the flavours weren t quite there. Most of all, the quantity of food was meagre leaving us still hungry at the end. Not a result your hoping for when you re paying for one of the most expensive set course meals in Toronto. I know previous menus have had more filling meat courses (we had fish & a small piece of rabbit). They just need to get the balance right to ensure guests are leaving satisfied.

Of the 7 courses two were a miss (strawberry rose salad; crudité) two were fantastic (mushroom and fresh peas; custard apricot dessert) and 3 were somewhere in between. Wine program is outstanding, service was impeccable, atmosphere is lovely. All staff really seem to enjoy working there and it shows in the overall experience. Vegetarian options: All dietary accommodations were respected and appreciated

My favourite restaurant in the city

Great place. Deserve to revisit

One of the best dining experiences Ive had in Toronto. Verrrry delicious. Service is amazing too. They bring out a dish for you to enjoy and take your time. No hustling or overbearing servers. Few things to keep in mind before coming: best to have reservations, a pre-fixed menu, and red wine by glass is very limited. Prices are very reasonable, especially considering how pleasant the whole experience was. Highly recommend for both special occasions and casual. Toronto needs more places like this.

You have to go! This restaurant not only delivers on taste, but all your senses. Can t say enough about what the experience is like. Everyone is passionate in delivering an unbelievable evening. Just book it.

So happy to be able to celebrate a special occasion at Actinolite. Justin and team looked after us fulfilling all our senses. The wood fire welcomed us into the backyard patio, the staff were friendly and attentive, the food was creative and delicious. I wholeheartedly recommend experiencing dining here.

Im not a person who goes to fancy restaurants often so take what I say with a grain of salt. This place was awesome. I sat outside on the patio. Im not sure how but it felt like I wasnt in the city, but instead at some beautiful cottage in the woods. The food was great and omg the service was top notch. Much of the food is a little experimental but they asked if there was anything we didnt like/couldnt eat and were happy to change a couple things out. Its hard to put into words how awesome it was. Its expensive but 100% worth going. Cant say I have ever felt so important and listened to at a restaurant, and that the staff actually cared about their work. Never once did a waiter have to go back and ask the kitchen they simply knew. Im rambling but TLDR YOU SHOULD GO.

I left kinda hungry :/

Food is great and nice place

Easily one of the most overlooked tasting menus in the city. Staff are incredibly knowledgeable, wine pairings were spot on. The food truly felt like tasting Ontario on any given day and with a constantly changing menus its always a surprise and delight. A top 3 restaurant in the city for me.

The food was inventive and tasty, especially the cured and wood fired pickerel, or the scallop roe, or the buttermilk sauce for the beef. The enthusiastic service, outdoor dining, local ingredients and smell of wood smoke made this special.

I dont take the time I normally should to write a lot of reviews but I would definitely recommend an experience at Actinolite. We went for the prix fixé in summer outside and it was so worth it. We dropped $520 for 2 people including 2 fixed menus, the wine pairing, tax, and tip so its not inexpensive, but we came away feeling like it was money well-spent. The only thing I would say is that although ingredients are fresh and the dishes are creative and interesting, they have to cater to everyone so if youre looking for ultra adventurous cuisine this may not be the place. It is, however, really fun to just sit down and have them take care of all the decision-making since theres no menu. They just bring good food and well-paired wine and explain what youre getting as it hits the table. Overall a really great experience!

The food, service, and atmosphere are all 5 stars. It is pricy so it s more of a special occasion spot, but you get what you pay for. It s a real hidden gem!

Were coming here 2/3 times every year for special occasions, food is always great, service too, this is not a restaurant where you go to fill your stomach, here the culinary experience is the key, and it is always great.

this place is lolsies. what a joke

Hidden in plain sight, just a short walk north of Ossington station, is this unassuming fine dining location that served us an incredible condensed menu of food so local you can see the chefs going into the backyard for ingredients. The menu felt fresh yet grounded, only further enhanced by the dining experience in the back patio. The only real road bump in the dining experience was the excessive amount of bad drivers on Ossington interrupting our dinner conversation. No fault of the restaurant themselves.

Such a great beginning to the night. Wonderful ambiance in the back patio & that lovely smell of wood fire. The rest of the night was a huge disappointment. Beginning with the sparse courses in their 6 course tasting menu. To charge $125 for a few vegetables, bread and one piece of very small pork is outrageous. Our bill came to $450 and we left still hungry and unsatisfied. Service was just okay but a bit slow and often our water wasnt refilled promptly. We will not be returning. This is whats wrong with Toronto restaurants trying too hard to be pretentious and not focused on the actual food. We have been to 2 star Michelin restaurants that are cheaper and offered 15 courses with wine pairings. For this restaurant to keep doing this to people is ludicrous. They should be ashamed of themselves. We had to go to King Slice for pizza on Queen afterwards.

For the price point this was very underwhelming. Ingredients were basic and menu was uninspiring. Pork was under. Staff was nice but inexperienced. Server was consuming wine on the job and could not properly describe the menu to us. It would have been ok if it wasnt priced on par with some of the better restaurants in the city. It simply isnt worth it.

TL;DR: My girlfriend and I spent $500+ (after tip) and left hungry. Ambience is great, its a nice country-type vibe within the city. I didnt put 5/5 because we received a text from the restaurant to dress for the weather and bring blankets. Youd think a restaurant this expensive can at least offer blankets, especially when indoor seating is minimal. Its the principal. It was also our anniversary dinner and we got terrible seating near the entrance - didnt impact the rating, but didnt help. Service was amazing from the waiters and everyone in the kitchen. Probably the best Ive ever had in a restaurant. Food was disappointing. The dishes were creative, but the portions were so insanely small. One dish was 3 half-slices of mini potatoes (basically 1.5 mini potatoes), half a piece of a tiny artichoke, and some sauce on top lol. The wine pairing is also a rip off. $70/person for alcoholic kombucha; we werent impressed, considering we love wine. If you have money to spend and/or a very small stomach, it might be the place for you.

WOW... WOW... WOW... WOW!!! What a wonderful experience here! First of all, what an amazing crew! From the wait staff to the chefs they are awesome. The level of engagement was just right, they are friendly, approachable and really know not to interrupt and ask hows your food? youre in a conversation with your friends. Now thats service! Great to experience the dining outside experience as its a lovely garden and fall is slowly arriving there was a lit up fireplace to make it extra cosy and I love it! 6 course meal without a menu, I simply love the element of surprise and having that full dining experience. Every dish was really something, very well thought with the sauce, ingredients pairing, and all so fresh and tasty. It really gave me a taste of explosion and didnt feel heavy at all. Cant compliment this place enough and the staff there are so positive, great energy and you really can feel their passion for food.

Food is terrible!!! I cant believe what they served for 125 + tax a head. Only protein was a tiny bite size pork strip and a local fish that stinks like the lake. Im sorry but local vegetables is not a 125 a head meal! Not to mention it wasnt good

Low key fine dining. Highlighting local fare. Extremely fresh and vivid, deep flavours. Went a few years ago twice and forgot to review.

The portion sizes are like my childhood kitchen set size, we were hungry after we came back home after paying for an expensive course, my suggestion would be to not go if you have an average to huge appetite. Also the service is average

Perfect evening. We came in not knowing what to expect and were blown away by the passion, creativity and absolutely unique and delicious experience. Toronto hidden gem. Every course was meant to flow and was incredible. Superb.

Just amazing

I did not take photos because I was focused on the experience. Loved the food, the service and the atmosphere of the place! This was my second time here and I ll definitely be back during summer to try the patio. Can t wait!

Update: 2023 Dec Food is still great however the portions are not enough. I craved to have another full meal after the 7 course served. Especially the main protein, 3 slices of Mutton. We thought that at least the main would be a bigger portion. Delicious but portions too small. We had a fantastic time here. The chef knows what they re doing. Just show up and eat. You ll be pleased.

Food was delicious and food service. Every bite was very tasty.

Actinolite was a restaurant that came highly recommended and it did not disappoint. The food was prepared with such care and finesse that you can just tell that the chefs are passionate about the ingredients they work with and the food they prepare. The staff was courteous and friendly, and Miguel our server for the night impressed us so much with his knowledge about the different wines we paired with our food. The restaurant has no menu and essentially you have to expect to be surprised with the different courses in your meal. They are true farm to table so expect the food to be different and seasonal! One of my favorite dishes was a smoked homemade tofu and daikon appetizer. I would go back just for that one dish alone! Would definitely recommend this restaurant for people who are looking to be a little adventurous and not picky with food.

Delicious tasting menu! All of the staff were very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Great service as well! The ambience was very relaxed. There is lots of street parking available close by, and is free during certain hours/evenings. Parking: free street parking during certain hours/evenings

Always an incredible meal, ambiance and service.

I m so glad to have come here to visit!!! What an amazing place, I will be back to Canada before the year is up!!!

Incredible tasting experience. The menu was a surprise. Locally produced food and very tasty wine pairing to go with it. Very enjoyable.

Wasn t aware it was a set menu and price ($125 per person) until we were there, which is mostly on us but they could have been clearer when reserving. The food at that price with a glass of each for two people came to over $350 and was totally not worth it. 6/10 at best

Actinolite has long been one of our very favourite restaurants in the city. We are continually amazed by Chef Justins creativity, passion and commitment to using only the very best ingredients. Our dinner last Saturday night was stellar in every way. Please try this gem as soon as you can!

Best restaurant around

Wow. What a let down. Having eaten at this fine establishment on several occasions during its prime, I can say, unequivocally, that we were shocked with our $400 bill for 2 people, when we were served 4 oysters, 6 (cold) vegetable dishes, and a tiny cut of (prime-rib-like) beef immersed in the saltiest of au-jus that all but removed the identity of the cut. The scene was stunning, the service was exemplary (as always), but the passion has been lost, and the value was embarrassing. I used to really love it here.

Possibly the best meal i have ever had. My only disappointment now is that I cannot give Actinolite six stars. Chef Justin takes enormous pride in his craft, as he should. Priority is given to local organic providers, and immense care is given to creating unique beautiful dishes with wonderful flavours. Be prepared to spend a few hours...you will be pleased you did. Adding to my review just hard another spectacular dinner here. I never knew food could taste so good!

Actinolite is a hidden fine dining gem on Ossington Avenue. It s about half way between Bloor and Dupont and there s not a whole lot else happening on that part of Ossington, but the restaurant is definitely enough of a reason to make your way to the area. The restaurant is very focused on the best quality seasonal produce, sourced, for the most part, from local producers, including from chef s home town of .well Actinolite! It is a fixed menu, so you don t get to select what you re eating just be sure to tell them of any allergies or dietary requirements when you reserve. You re usually looking at a tasting menu of about 5 delicious courses, which can be served with or without wine pairings. The wine selection is usually excellent and unusual! The way this restaurant has innovated throughout the pandemic by opening their backyard / garden for a fireside series menu was excellent sitting around fires during frisk weather drinking complimentary hot cider with brandy while we watched our food being cooked over the fire in Fall / early winter was just amazing! Strongly recommend this restaurant!

This restaurant is among the best in Toronto..amazing experience..

Tonight - 30th anniversary. Justin and Miguel were able to squeeze us in. Sincerely: I ve been waiting since before the pandemic to come back. The experience exceed expectations. Everything done in the backyard behind the restaurant pieces of head wood burning with the most pungent smoke got the salivation going. Oysters and gooseberries paired with sweet, top of the tree plums in a tomato and herb salad. A coulis, of which proving I forgot. Amazing first course. After that we started on our Niagara Chardonnay and the flavours and dishes begin to blur a little. There was a cucumber salad with a subtle but acidic/fruit based dressing that brought a fresh yum Kines s to the mouth. A grilled zucchini and corn bowl blew the tastes in another direction there was a climax of a VERY RARE marinated beef loin - just indescribable. I wanted more and even had what my dining partner of 30 years could not finish. Hours old sourdough bread and yeast seed salted butter - I want to swear out loud it is so good. Finally.: a dessert that by that time I could not memorize the ingredients except for the goat cheese gelato. Probably the most memorable meal of the last 3 years. Actinolite is a gem of a restaurant in Toronto and in the world generally.

Ive eaten here a few times, and most recently did the seven-course tasting menu. The vegetables were incredibly fresh and delicious, but the sum total of protein across all seven courses was 2 mussels, one thinly-shaved piece of prosciutto, and a small piece of whitefish. I also bit down on something hard in my salad, which was very unpleasant. They took it back to the kitchen and told me it was a piece of plum pit and verbally apologized, but I think at the very least a complimentary drink would have been reasonable. For a meal that was nearly $400 for two with a few drinks (but not the pairing) I would expect more. I left with a sore tooth and was hungry an hour later, and Im not a huge eater.

Amazing food. I was blown away by the quality and flavours. Definitely recommend the experience.

Restaurant with an excellent menu, flavor and taste, you wont be disappointed if you take a little trip there. The menu scrolls through everyones mind, high quality meals cooked to meet your expectations

Great experience at Actinolite. The meal was very refreshing and captures the seasonal ingredients! Will definitely come back for another season!

Very good customer service and ambiance

Absolutely phenomenal. Cant wait to go again

So this one was a very strange experience. We have waited a long time to get a reservation here and my wife and I were really excited when we finally got a spot. We travel quite often and are very familiar with quirks of tasting menus. When you step inside it s a beautiful setting in the backyard with the smell of smoke and fires going. We were promptly seated and our server was very friendly. So the start was very good. However, it all went downhill from there. They are charging $125 per person for a set 7 course meal. Out of the 7 courses, one course is bread and another is just a raw vegetable salad. There was just one meat dish (a small steak maybe 6oz) and most of the dishes had no essence of fire or creativity with smoke. Now, in their defence, they do tell you when you sit down that their current menu is very vegetable forward and I have no issues with that. We have eaten at Michelin Star restaurants around the world where some of the best dishes were vegetarian. However, to serve raw vegetables and bread as 2 courses in a 7 course menu priced at $125 is simply outrageous. With tip and a bottle of wine the total bill came to almost $500 and we went home hungry. I m not sure if this place used to be better or used to serve a different menu which attracted the glowing reviews. In its current form it is probably the most overpriced and pretentious dining experience in Toronto in my opinion. We will definitely not be returning here.

Really immersive meal with fresh ingredients and a thoughtful progression. The menu changes constantly, so theres nothing that feels repetitive or outdated. Its also a pleasure being able to see the food being made, and the staff genuinely seem to enjoy their work.

I recently tried out the backyard tasting menu and had an enjoyable evening. While being a little chilly outside, it was a cozy patio atmosphere with a running bonfire to provide heat. Service was excellent and I was impressed by the restaurant s attentiveness to your dietary needs. Our experience offered 7.5 plates. While the cooking was not as adventurous as I was expecting, everything was either good or absolutely delicious. The standout was a charred mixed vegetable salad and a juniper marshmallow to cap our meal. One thing I d recommend the restaurant consider in the future is reviewing the serving sizes. While I ve read some reviews complain about the small serving sizes, our menu featured 3-4 dishes that were just much too large or too filling. Near the end, there were a couple of dishes I just couldn t finish. When you re too full, trying different dishes becomes less fun as you start to negotiate what not to eat to avoid overstuffing yourself. That s a bummer thing to have to do during this type of dining experience.

My favorite restaurant that I visited while in Toronto. It had locally sourced food and a great ambiance. It was suited for a small number of people which made it to have a more intimate experience with team.

This is in my top 3 best prix fixe places in Toronto. The theme of the restaurant is cooking in your backyard, and walking into the restaurant you feel it immediately. Its rustic in a good way and theres so much attention to detail in the food. From the mushroom soup and turkey skewers to roasting your own marshmallow by the fire, everything was perfect. Its not an overstatement to say that this has been the best restaurant Ive been to that has tried to keep their whole menu consistent thematically and quality-wise. The only downside would be that your clothes will reek of smoke by the end of the night! But thats a small price to pay for the amazing experience.

It was an amazing experience! I went for my pre-birthday meal and the food was delicious. A lot of interesting tastes and the service was great too. The ambience was nice and I have nothing to complain about.

3.5/5 Flavorful dishes without dish names Lots of (maybe too much) vegetable components, simple combinations of fresh ingredients yet some were quite good, not too much details in the way they presented each dish as you can in the pictures

Had dinner here last month and was an incredible experience.

Absolutely wonderful experience, dinner, and service! We loved every single bit!

Visited this past weekend with a few friends. An effort was made but unfortunately the experience fell short. A majority of the dishes were vegetable based and unsubstantial, and the main protein was trout which was fine. In comparison to other tasting menus weve had; the value was just not there. The dessert course of Baked Alaska (which we only received 3 servings of for 5 people) was not flambéed correctly and tasted of nothing but strong alcohol. There was an awkward moment when it didnt ignite at the table, but nothing was done to rectify the situation. Overall, would give this spot a miss.

Tasty and creative menu. Good presents very well. Nice quiet patio in summertime.

Amazing dinner tonight - highly recommend

Although it was day 1 of their wood fire dinners I feel like there was a level of preparedness that was amiss. For $100pp a full drink menu would be expected, a basic drink menu would ve even been good. They had neither (they did have an extensive wine list). Our party of 4 has frequented many fine dining establishments in the city so small portions are no stranger to us - small is an understatement. If one oyster per person is course 1, it better be a damn good oyster. Food was mediocre at best, general consensus was that it was bland and thrown together. To be completely honest, the way they played up completely average and basic dishes was kind of insulting. We remained polite throughout service as it s not the server s fault. He was pleasant but other staff were pretentious and seemed unapproachable. Lots of improvements to make. This is a good idea that has the potential to create a great experience. Unfortunately it left us with a sour taste in our mouths.

Everything about this restaurant and its backyard bonfire meal was exquisite. The servers were lovely, attentive and friendly. It was fun watching the chefs cook in ways that seemed so simple but tasted so complex. The chefs were also unpretentious and often interacted with the guests, answering their questions, and being mindful of their environment. The ambiance was uncomplicated, quiet, with just enough romance. And of course, the food was the star. Flavours were well balanced, perfectly seasoned, and complimentary to each other. If you re ever there on a night that they re serving their elderflower ice cream, savour it.

It was an unforgettable experience!!

Excellent food, great staff, and unique experience. Highly recommend!

This is a wonderful patio that should not be missed. Open cooking in patio ,,, delicious food and a great selection of wine !

Outstanding dining experience.

Wonderful and special place for dinner.

I would give 10 stars if I could! This was our second time dining here but first time in the backyard. The open fire cooking gave off a homey vibe. Every dish was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. My husband who typically hates eggplant even said the eggplant dish changed his view on this vegetable. Service was friendly and prompt. If you can score a reservation, do it! You won t regret it.

I dont know if this makes sense but their vegetables simply taste so much better than anything you can get from the grocery stores. With such great ingredients, the dishes are only lightly seasoned yet super flavorful. Besides the vegetables, another highlight of the dinner is the cod. It tastes nothing like the flaky, lean fish that I am used to but more like the buttery black cod or even reminds me of the texture of a perfectly cooked lobster. Easily one of the most memorable meals Ive had, especially considering that it uses none of the ingredients that are usually associated with fine dinning. Everything looks simple and unpretentious.

Tears of joy. Tables were talking to each other cuz we were all so blown away. So fresh, so deep. Thank you team!

What an amazing food and service experience! Food was delicious and the staff on top of their game. Made it a perfect Friday night out with friends. Price is in the upper range but will gladly pay it again!

Our meal at Actinolite was the best meal of 2021 hands down. I wish I could give six stars. Everything was fresh, foraged, or grilled on a nearby wood fire. The food was inventive and prepared with care on handmade ceramics. The wine was just right, the weather was perfect. Ahhh! Such a lovely, lovely place. Follow them on Instagram and grab that reservation as soon as it appears!

Definitely one of the best restaurants in the city. The food and staff are amazing!

One the best restaurants in Toronto. The food quality is, by far, some of very best in the city. Outdoor, covered dining area, with fire-pits to keep guests warm, which gives a feeling like of sitting around a cottage camp fire. The chefs and all staff are excellent. Thank you Actinolite!!

Incredible food and service in a beautiful setting. Every course of the set menu was divine. So fun to watch the chefs cooking your meal outside on open fires. Hidden gem.

Unfortunately, my experience at Actinolite failed to justify its per person price as well as its Google rating. Below are some of the things that could have been done better: - The concept is great, however tables are too close to the fire. After I left the restaurant, I could still smell the smoke on my clothes. If you have breathing difficulties, a windy day at Actinolite could very quickly turn into a bad experience. - The cutlery was never replaced throughout the different courses. I ended up cleaning it with the towel they have provided between courses. - They don t provide a menu. I understand that they want to play it by ear every night but a menu still helps. After I was told this, the waiter asked me what I wanted drink. Not everyone is comfortable to make a wine selection without knowing what they will be eating. The waiter proposed starting with a white and moving to red. I ended up getting a beer. - Overall the food was ok. But this price point made the expectations much higher. It is wood fire, whatever you cook with it will be good unless you burn it. Unfortunately the plates were simply mediocre at best. The main course had a lamb which had at most 50 grams of meat and the rest was fat. - When your kitchen is visible, everyone is watching you and your moves. There were a lot red flags such as overcooking certain sides and failing to sear the meat properly in some cases or adding wood to the fire in an amateur way. You could taste these red flags in the food as well. - I couldn t finish one of the appetizers because although it had an interesting idea it had too much of it. The chef saw the not finished plate in the waiter s hand and asked what was wrong with it to the waiter. I would have loved the provide feedback if I was asked but that didn t happen. Yet I saw this interaction and found it a bit unwelcoming. Overall, this is an overrated and overpriced restaurant which in my opinion does not deserve its current rating of 4.8 because of the reasons I mentioned a above.

Overpriced.

Please do not fall for the reviews. 400 dollars and we got radish and a bit of kale toasted. Absolutely horrible.

Wonderful food. I went here last summer and I was just blown away. The oysters were a stand out and the home baked bread was so special. All the ingredients are sourced locally as well. Truly worth the money. If you have something to celebrate, this restaurant is the choice!

Bravo! The food, the ambience, the bonfire cooking on the spot. We came in with no expectation and left with huge satisfaction.

Amazing first experience eating at a restaurant after nearly 2 years. I took my husband here for a milestone birthday. Wed been shut in for most of Covid and both needed a reason to push us back into the world of dining out. Actinolite did not disappoint. We loved the outdoor, firepit/campfire vibe. We were toasty not far from the fire and able to watch the chef prepare the food. A complimentary starter of hot cider containing birch leaves and pine needles was the perfect introduction to the meal. It smelled delicious and went down smoothly, especially with a splash of Jim Beam. Our tasting menu consisted of fresh ingredients in season and each course was a surprise. It included mushroom soup, mussels in a leek broth, and a main of cassoulet with lamb and pork. Dessert was poached pear with Chantilly cream, and the server was kind enough to put a candle in my husbands dessert. I didnt even ask for it. You dont need a reason to book here, and its not easy to get reservations, but keep trying! The experience and the food are worth it.

Reservations are difficult to get but with lots of planning, it s possible. Took my friend here for her birthday. It was nice that they said Happy Birthday upon our arrival. Unfortunately they didn t put a candle in her dessert. The multiple fires going keep you warm, provides a great ambiance but my eyes started burning 1/2 way through dinner. You will also smell like smoke when you leave but it will remind you of your outdoor dining experience. I m gluten sensitive & they made substitutions for me which was great! The trust me menu was delicious! The highlights for me was the pine needle birch leaves apple cider with bourbon on the side, pine mushrooms in vegetable broth, the mussels were one of the best ever & the pear dessert with cream ! Service was excellent! Thumbs up to all the chefs!

I really wish I could give this place a better rating, I really do. But as far as fine dining goes, this just isnt it. The good: - Lovely servers, who were very intent and kept us taken care of - Good food. Not gourmet by any means, but it is true to their offering and it was very enjoyable The bad: Why only 2 stars? The experience. Fine dining is traditionally accompanied by fine service. This was accompanied by a horrible experience with ashes blowing into our food. - They have an indoor dining room that they dont use. The night we went it was about 3 degrees above freezing and windy, yet we ate outside. When asked for a blanket, we were told the restaurant doesnt have them. If youre making people eat outside in near freezing temperatures, youd better supply blankets. - Ventilation. The open fire is a cool concept. The open fires under a shelter with poor ventilation is terrible. We heard multiple groups, including ourselves, coughing throughout the service, the space was filled with smoke to the point that we still have sore throats and eyes the next morning. The CO2 intake was too much. - Is it even legal to have open fires under a shelter without a chimney? Its hard to believe in a city so regulated that this is even allowed. - Smoke, everywhere. Expect to take your jackets to the dry cleaners the next day to get the smell of smoke out. The expensive meal comes with a dry cleaning addition youre probably not planning on. - Ash, everywhere. The winds whipped up the ash flowing out of the fires and neatly deposited them in our food and wine. - No real drink list. They call themselves fine dining, but do not have a cocktail list, or even a proper wine list. Most chain pubs have a deeper wine list, this is rather shameful. - Metal chairs without cushions. Again, near freezing, the chairs acted as a cold plate and anyone not wearing a long coat would have frozen. To improve the experience: - If its below 10 degrees, use the dining room - Offer blankets when its freezing - If youre going to do the fire thing, dont do it under a roof - Just dont do the fires near the tables - Dont smoke out your customers - The fire is a gimmick, if you cant control it (smoke, ash) then dont use it in front of patrons I was really looking forward to recommending this place, but will have to steer people away from this unfortunate experience until they can sort out the comfort side of customer service and fine dining.

Nice meat bro

A great meal and a pretty and comfortable patio.

Have done take home dinners during pandemic and they have been great.

An absolute gem! Very professional, yet laid back staff that are super knowledgeable. Highly recommend sharing their whole menu and enjoying the beautiful backyard patio and fire. Youll forget youre in the city!

Such a beautiful outdoor patio, and the food was delicious and really warmed you up. Appreciated the background and stories behind each dish as well. Would definitely recommend for a special occassion or if you just want to treat yourself!

Amazing food and atmo. Definitely coming back!

Very nice restaurant with excellent food prepared on the fire.

My partner and I went here for one of their bonfire set menu dinners and it was a beautiful cozy experience. The chef and staff were very hospitable, everything in every course was cooked perfectly. We had the lamb main and it was so tender yet juicy. And all the juices were sitting in the divots of the kale. The dessert doughnut was a fluffy cloud. I would absolutely recommend and come back for another experience like that.

In the way that cabane à sucre embody a kind of wintertime culinary tradition for Québec, Chef Justin and the team at Actinolite have embodied a love of food and a love of place for Ontario in their Backyard Bonfire Dinner series. We just returned from the most amazing, wonderfully hot, and impeccably delicious meal in the fresh snow in their backyard. What an experience. Thank you Actinolite for an amazing evening!